U. of Kentucky countersues fired coach

The University of Kentucky countersued fired men's basketball coach Billy Gillispie yesterday, claiming it does not owe him pay because he never signed a contract.

Gillispie filed a claim in Dallas, asking for $6 million in lost salary and undisclosed punitive damages, attorneys' fees, and court costs. The coach, who was fired March 27, was working under a memorandum of understanding but had not signed a formal contract during the two years he coached the Wildcats.

Big Ten powers Michigan, Ohio State, and Wisconsin have decided to stop printing media guides for all of their sports teams. The information will be available on the Internet. Michigan and Ohio State estimated the savings at $250,000 per year. Wisconsin said that the move would save up to $200,000.

Matt Carlino, a 6-foot-3 guard who has said he will attend Indiana University, plans to move from Arizona and complete his final two years of high school eligibility at Indiana's defending Class 4A champion, Bloomington South. Carlino now attends Gilbert Highland High School in Arizona where his father, Mark Carlino, is the head coach.

Elsewhere: Jessica Mapes and Taylor Haro each had four hits as Arizona State (47-17) beat Missouri, 7-3, in the opener of the College Softball World Series in Oklahoma City. . . . Southern Cal forward Marcus Johnson has been granted another year of eligibility, basketball coach Tim Floyd said.

Landon Donovan and Mia Hamm, stars of U.S. national teams in several World Cups, have joined the board of directors for the United States' bid committee trying to win rights to host the World Cup in 2022.

England and Spain are considered the leading contenders in the 2018 vote, with the United States a favorite for 2022. FIFA's executive committee is to vote in December 2010.

D.C. United will play Spanish power Real Madrid in an exhibition game Aug. 9 at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.

Thousands of fans packed the streets of Barcelona to hail the return of the soccer team after its victory over Manchester United in the Champions League final in Rome.

The joyful atmosphere was a contrast to the violence that marred celebrations after the game ended Wednesday, with more than 100 people arrested and 153 injured in the Catalonia region.

Lance Armstrong finished in the main pack in the 18th leg of the Giro d'Italia, 3 minutes, 57 seconds behind stage winner Michele Scarponi of Italy, as the tour moved into Benevento.

Denis Menchov of Russia enters the 19th leg - a difficult climb up Mount Vesuvius - with a 26-second lead over Danilo Di Luca in the overall standings.

Promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank said more than 13,000 tickets have been sold for Miguel Cotto's welterweight title fight against Joshua Clottey, and a sellout is expected June 13 at Madison Square Garden.

Arum said $500 ringside seats were already gone. Among those who plan to be in the crowd are Brandon Jacobs and several of his New York Giants teammates.

This will be the sixth time that Cotto, the WBO champion with a 33-1 career record and 27 knockouts, will fight at the Garden. It will also be the fourth time he has fought on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day parade, when thousands of his countrymen typically turn out for him.

Clottey is 35-2 with 20 KOs.

Australian Olympic silver medalist and former world kayaking champion Nathan Baggaley faces a prison term of up to 20 years after pleading guility to supplying and manufacturing ecstasy pills.

Baggaley, who won two silver medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics, pleaded guilty in Lismore, Australia, to the sale of 1,509 tablets in late 2007.

ESPN has notified about 100 employees that they will lose their jobs. The subsidiary of the Walt Disney Co. employs about 5,400 people worldwide, including about 3,400 at its Bristol, Conn. campus.

ESPN college football analyst Lee Corso, 73, is recovering from a minor stroke but plans to be back for the start of the season this fall, a network spokesman said.